God Running is a place for anyone who wants to (or even anyone who wants to want to) love Jesus more deeply, follow Jesus more closely, and love people the way Jesus wants us to.
In our last post from Romans we saw how Paul pointed his Jewish brothers and sisters to Isaiah 53, an amazing prophecy about the coming of Christ, confirmed to have been written hundreds of years before his birth. (If you’re interested, you can read more here: Isaiah Prophesying About Jesus and Romans 10:16-21.) In today’s post Paul makes reference to Elijah’s encounter with God on the side of Horeb, the mount of God. We’ll look at what happened there between Elijah and God. We’ll see why Paul used Elijah as an answer to the question of the Jews. And we’ll see how important it is for you and for me to avoid communicating the way Elijah did, on that day, on the mount of God.
Romans 11:1-6
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Elijah’s Encounter with God
Paul here is answering the question of whether or not God has rejected the Jewish people. And I appreciate the way he refers to Elijah’s encounter with God from 1 Kings chapter 19:
Jezebel has just threatened Elijah’s life, so he’s on the run, and he’s afraid, and he’s depressed, and he’s anxious. Eventually he makes his way to a cave on the side of Horeb, the mount of God. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah.
God said: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah said: “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
What happens next is interesting, because instead of answering Elijah immediately, God tells Elijah to get himself to a different place. He tells Elijah to get himself out of that dark space he’s in right now, God tells Elijah to get himself out of the cave, and to stand on the mount of God “before the Lord.”
After a great wind, and an earthquake, and a fire pass by, Elijah hears a low whisper.
And again, God asks Elijah: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
And again Elijah said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
And God responds by giving Elijah instructions about who to anoint as king of Israel, and who to anoint as king of Syria, and who to anoint as Elijah’s successor.
And then God says this: “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
Which Jews?
Elijah was in a dark place when he said, “. . . I, even I only, am left . . .” But as God informed him, the truth was, no! No, you’re not the only one left. Not by a long way. I have kept for Myself 7,000.
As an aside, one might ask the question: Was that literally 7,000 individuals? Possibly. But often times in ancient traditions, numbers were symbolic. Seven was seen as the number of divine perfection; the world was created in seven days (many scholars believe not literal days, but rather in God’s perfect timing), the Sabbath was celebrated on the seventh day of the week, even the celebration of the Jubilee years when all outstanding debts were forgiven, took place every 49 (7×7) years. And one thousand is often used to represent fullness or vastness. Take Deuteronomy 7:9 for example: Know, then, that the LORD, your God, is God: the faithful God who keeps covenant mercy to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments…” God doesn’t cut off His mercy at generation 1001; the part about the thousandth generation is meant to evoke the idea of God’s full, complete, everlasting faithfulness.
So, when God said to Elijah that he would keep 7,000 for Himself, that could very well mean 7,000 individuals, sure, but I tend to think He means so much more than that. Not only would Elijah not be alone, God is saying that He will preserve a vast, perfect count of His faithful in Israel from the influence of Baal.
In Romans, at the end of chapter 10, Paul describes a dark and difficult situation for the Jews. So in today’s text at the beginning of chapter 11, Paul answers the question: Has God rejected the Jews? And he’s answering in the same way God answered Elijah in 1 Kings 19.
Has God rejected the Jews? “By no means!”
Then Paul goes on to qualify himself as a Jew. An Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. And of course, Jesus was a Jew, and a Rabbi. And Jesus’ disciples were Jews. And the 3,000 saved on the day of Pentecost were Jews. So in other words, yes, sure, there are Jews who have rejected Jesus, but we can’t say the Jews have rejected Jesus. And we can’t say God has rejected the Jews.
Because, like Elijah in the cave, we have to answer the question:
Which Jews?
One Thing No Christian Should Ever Say
Today (at the time of this writing) I came upon a report from the Pew Research Center. Interestingly enough, they talk about people of Jewish background and people of Jewish affinity in the United States. And in this report, I was fascinated to learn how many Jewish people identify as Christian! (Pew Research Center, Jewish Americans in 2020)
Which Jews, indeed.
But this idea of painting with the broad brush, and saying that God has rejected the Jews, it extends to all kinds of applications. As a Christian, as a Jesus follower, we should never say God has rejected the Jews. And, we should never say anything about any people group or category of people using a broad brush. Sometimes I hear people begin a statement with:
“The Jewish people say they reject Christ.”
Or, “The Christians say . . .”
Or, “The Democrats say . . .”
Or, “The Republicans say . . .”
Or, “The trans people say . . .”
Or, “White people say . . .”
Or, “Rich people say . . .”
Or, “Homeless people say . . .”
Or, “Mexican people say . . .”
Or, “Gay people say . . .”
Sometimes the person speaking doesn’t even know anyone personally from the group they’re talking about. Often times, if we look into what they’re saying, they’re talking about a minority of the group in question. And virtually 100% of the time, they don’t have a good answer to the question, “Which Jews?” Or, “Which Christians?” Or, “Which Democrats?” Or, “Which Republicans?” Etc.
I’m not saying we should forsake the truth. I’m just saying, as a Christian, you and I should never use the broad brush that way.
Because as Paul points out at the end of today’s text, some Jews are saved. And salvation is given to us by grace, not on the basis of works.
Our salvation is a gift. (see What Shall We Say Then: Faith or Works?–What Paul Wrote to the Believers in Rome)
A gift given to every human being who’s willing to receive it.
Notes:
Pew Research Center, Jewish Americans in 2020, May 11, 2021
Image of The Conversion of Saint Paul painting by Spinello Aretino via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
The Love Like Jesus Book
Looking for something meaningful to listen to during the quieter winter moments? This audiobook offers practical wisdom, real stories, and gentle guidance you can take with you—whether you’re driving, folding laundry, or sneaking in a walk between the snowflakes.
Let it speak to your heart this season.
We recently released the audiobook version, beautifully narrated by Jonathan St. John. And it’s available on the following platforms:
It’s also available on Amazon, Hoopla, Audiobooksnow, Chirp, Libro, Overdrive, and virtually everywhere audiobooks are offered.
